The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-12-22


was trying to understand this confusion,
he noticed that there had appeared, rank
Oh rank and file on file, limitless, count
less numbers of chernhim aud seraphini,
and i'll the midst of this throng sat upoR
q crystal throne Christ, the benign, the
loving. tho pitifnl. and his features seemed
10 eXutle sweetness and mercy from every
lineament, and his smile was incffabiy
tender.
The chcrubirl and seraphim sang
'Glorv, glory to God i'll the highest and
on earth peace and good will to men,"
Gnl as Peter Perkins watched this bcauti,
full countenance he saw its expression.
change. Sometimes it became that of Il
little child, sweet and infanlinc. again it
was tender and pitiful then it looked as
il must have done when he said, Come
to me, all ye weary and heavy laden"
thea it was filled full of sorrow and merci-
ful goodness, and then it grew stern and
awful.
Then Peter Perkins noticed that there
was throng ever increasing and reach
ing far below them SO that the end Of
them was far out of sight, and these
people came singly TO the foot of the
Saviour and there laid gift which was in
stantly taken by the angels and laid upon
IL pin vi SCtlcS, NlilCH tllU HOT ilicuSuIt nf
the weight of the gift itself, but the
motive which lay like a living heart in
side it.
Then Peter Perkins saw that all who
had not yet offered their gift had bur-
den to carry, large or small, and lie sud-
denly became aware that the bl rtlen fast
ened upon his own back was enormous
and was very heavy But he turned to
the stranger and said: "When will it be
my turn?'
"When all of these shall have passed"
And he had to stand there with the
great unknown weight upon his shoulders
for long hours, or days, or years, hc did
not know which, while all these people
came by.
lie noticed man who staggered by
and laid q heavy weight of gold chalices
and church candlesticks and other en-
blenns 1t his feet, and Peter Perkins saw
with surprise that they flew up in the bal
anCe as If of air. Another offered a
church, which was as SO much paper, and
then Il poor old woman in rags staggered
along with 4 cup of cold water as her only
Offering. This sent the scales down, down,
rs if it weighed ton, and then q pale,
thin man came and offered only n tear.
This, too, weighed heavier than gold.
Sometimes an old broken toy, or some
old, worn garments, or even a crust of
bread was laid at his feet, aud these, too,
were very heavy on those wonderful
scales.
Peter Perkins noticed, too, that those
whose gifts were light disappeared from
view, and he watched until he saw them
Gall into space and fade away in distance,
while the angels sent pitying glanccs after
them.
Suddenly the Saviour said:
t.NoW, Peter Perkins, what gift have
you brought TO the Lord on this his birth
day?''
"Oh! am willing to give you all
have, but this bundle upon my back was
not intended for you, but for the poor. If
you will let me go back | will return with
something more worthy of YOU
''But what have you in thut bundlcss7
''Only some -four, and meal. and sugar,
and ham, and rice which are not quite
fresh ard good, but l thought they would
| do for the poor''-
| "And have you never heard of my
| words, when / said: Inasmuch as ye do ii
| unto the least Of these, my children, ye
do it unto me?' Look, that cup of water
was given by u sick and suffering woman
to one who suffered worse. That holy
| tear was given from a pure heart that had
nothing else to offer, but you, out of your
| abundance, offer only that which is unfit
for food, and in offering that TO the un
fortunate poor you have offered it to me. .
81 did not know! Oh, please let me &C
| back and will do difTcrently''-
"Alas, you have lived youl life, and
you must, like all that throng you have
seen, take your deeds with you to plead
| for or against you. You can return M
more than they. All men bring theil
! passports of good or evil actions will
! them here, and once they have come
caught can change. They must bear thei
late. Some of them did not know but yol
had 4 mother who taught you Alright bu
| you forgot her words of wisdom or pu
them aside. So, now, go your way"
And with these words Peter Perkin
felt himself falling into perdition, weight
ed down by the moliy flour and spoilet
bread and sugar. Down, down he went
faster than many others who were on th
way, and he cried out in his agony o
| fear, when suddenly with that cry Ii
| awoke and sat up i'll bed. This then iiat
been 4 dream! But it had opened hi
eyes, and he began to see things as h
never lad done before. He remembered
his mothers teachings, and he slept N
more that night. But rs soon as dayligh
dawned he dressed and went TO the stor
where poor. faithful Mark, who had slave,
ten years for him, was packing thos
wretched things into the wagon.